Willie Nelson’s new album, Last Leaf On The Tree, finds him defying the odds and continuing to grow, six decades into a career that’s as eclectic as it is iconic. His 76th studio album and 153rd overall challenges the musical canon with songs by rock and folk legends, alt-rock pioneers, and surprising voices, each one filtered through his distinct lens. Curated and produced by his son, Micah Nelson, Last Leaf On The Tree is like a masterclass in song interpretation, with Willie transforming every song into one that could be unmistakably his own.

With his signature “Trigger” guitar in hand and supported by Micah on a multitude of instruments, Willie’s renditions move between stripped-down intimacy and raw, haunting production. The album brings together celebrated musicians like harmonica great Mickey Raphael, who’s played with Willie for more than half a century, alongside surprise guests like producer Daniel Lanois and the Doors’ John Densmore. Together, they help make Last Leaf On The Tree a soul-stirring meditation on loss, love, and strength.

Highlights include a stunning version of Beck’s “Lost Cause,” where Nelson’s voice meets the song’s introspective mood with a clarity and depth only he could achieve. “It’s almost like a country song,” Micah says, “this relationship gone south, but psychedelic, too.” Beck, a longtime admirer, calls it “the greatest honor” to hear Willie’s take on his work. Equally compelling is Willie’s stripped-down version of Tom Waits’ “Last Leaf,” a poetic nod to life’s last man standing that he delivers with a moving defiance. Texas Monthly recently praised his cover of the Flaming Lips’ “Do You Realize??” as “a masterpiece,” adding that Nelson’s rendition is deeply moving, a kind of rallying cry for resilience.

In addition to these reimagined covers, the album includes fresh takes on Nelson’s own songs, including “The Ghost” from 1962, now re-recorded in a more world-weary but wise form. There’s also “The Color Of Sound,” a new collaboration between Willie and Micah that adds a zen-like quality to the album’s deeply introspective mood. The album's art, crafted by Micah, reflects its ethereal soundscapes and is paired with animations co-created by Micah and his wife, Alexandra Dascalu Nelson, for the video of “Last Leaf.”

Willie Nelson isn’t slowing down off the stage, either. This month he’s also releasing Willie And Annie Nelson’s Cannabis Cookbook, a collection of favorite cannabis-infused recipes and high-flying tales from decades on tour. For Nelson, this cookbook is another chapter in a legacy that continues to surprise and inspire.